Australian demining expert killed in Iraq defusing IS bomb
An Australian mine-clearing expert has been killed in Iraq while defusing a device planted by retreating Islamic State militants.
The man lead 30 deminers and cleared land mines around the world for the not-for-profit Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) in Daquq.
He was killed on Tuesday morning after the device exploded about 200km north of Baghdad.
An Australian mine-clearing expert (not pictured) was killed on Tuesday morning after the device exploded about 200km north of Baghdad. Photo: Getty
The man was deemed one of the most experienced deminers the FSD had ever had. Photo: 7 News
It is believed the bomb was planted by Islamic State militants who were driven out of the area last year but left behind hundreds of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
A full investigation involving FSD, Iraqi authorities and police is underway into the death and has been described as a "guru and mentor" to his Iraqi team members.
FSD deputy director Ben Truniger said the foundation had its last accident six years ago and like then, the latest one "hit one of the most experienced deminers we've ever had".
"In our business that's part of the risk, if you're a mountaineer, every now and then one falls down," he told AAP by phone from Geneva.
"Even if you are as professional as you can be, there's always a residual risk."
Mr Truniger said something "one went wrong, and one is enough".
The deminer had more than 30 years of demining experience and had served in the Australian army. Photo: 7 News
He said FSD was working with the Australian embassy in Baghdad to return his body to Australia as soon as possible.
"It was a big, big blast which he has triggered by defusing one of these IEDs so forensic work will be very difficult."
The deminer had more than 30 years of demining experience and had served in the Australian army.
"He was a guru, he was a mentor, he was a trainer, he was a supervisor. You would expect these kind of accidents with anybody but him, that's the tragedy about it," Mr Truniger said.
It is believed the bomb was planted by Islamic State militants who left behind hundreds of improvised explosive devices. Photo: 7 News
The Australian's team of Iraqi deminers were "paralysed" at the loss of their supervisor who "wasn't just their mate ... they learned the whole trade from him".
"They need a while to recover and somehow gather the courage to continue," Mr Truniger said.
"Obviously they are more scared now."
Mr Truniger said retreating IS militants had planted the IEDs "out of nastiness" to prevent people returning to their homes.
"We are talking about tens of thousands of refugees who would like to go back to their villages but they are booby trapped by ISIS."
News break – May 17
